hello-- my name is christina, and I have a situation that is seeming to perplex my doctors (ob specialists), so I was looking for some feedback.... a little history about me is that i had one miscarriage at 12 weeks in 2011 (needed a d and c), and one child born in 2012.
i got pregnant in july 2013 and had a really early miscarriage (at 4 weeks 1 day). doc said that without early detection pg tests i wouldnt have even known i was pregnant. he said that since it was so early i didnt need to wait before getting pg again. well, 2 weeks later (late july/early aug) I got pg again.
I am currently 5 weeks, but have had some bleeding off and on past week, which has tapered off. doctor did a hcg test on monday evening and levels were at 124, but progerestone was at .5. Doc called and said I was going to miscarry, that no supplements would help since progesterone was so low, and just to wait for the miscarriage to happen. Well, I am just not a "wait and see" kind of girl!
Doctor wants to rule out ectopic, so they had me do another hcg test 48 hours later, and my levels tripped to 384!! doctor is perplexed how that has happened, and wants to do another hcg test month. they still arent retesting progesterone.
My questions: is it possible for progesterone levels to rise on their own? Anyone have this happen? If I was having another m/c, would my hcg be doubling? I feel really out of control right now, and am looking for any different perspective that can be offered....
Congrats & Welcome. I'm sorry you're in limbo. I'm on progesterone supplements (I take them vaginally at bed time and will until 10 weeks) to help support my pregnancy. If your numbers are going up & your progesterone is low it seems like a win win (although I'm not a doctor and don't know your history) but seems like it may be worth bringing up? Several ladies on here are also on supplemental progesterone whether taken in shot form, pill form or suppository form. Good luck!
Married the love of my life June 18, 2011 -- Me (28) DH (29)
No, I asked about supplements and the doctor said that "with my levels so low, there really isnt a chance that it will do anything". A little frustrated right now. Is it possible for progesterone levels to go up on their own without the supplements?
Hang in there - it's not over until it's over. I hope your doctor is wrong. Your HCG levels increasing is a good sign.
Agree with PP - progesterone levels fluctuate a lot, can they test it again when they do your next draw?
**Warning: Losses and living child mentioned** BFP#1 1/31/12, EDD 10/6/12 Harrison Gray born sleeping @ 18w6d. You changed our lives little guy. BFP#2 EDD 10/29/13, C/P 2/25/13, Bye little Ish, we barely got to know you. BFP#3 EDD 12/21/13, Baby Boots born 11/23/13Myrainbowbaby!
My OB wouldn't give me supplements after my first beta draw (hcg 25 and progesterone at 5.2), but did 4 days later when I hadn't experienced any bleeding and hcg jumped up to 200. I would push for the supplements.
so i am calling them again today after hearing this feedback to ask a second opinion on the supplements.
i did have bleeding a week or so ago, so i am wondering if that is why the doc is assuming i am miscarrying?
in addition, they are drawing my hcg on Monday, which it would seem to make sense for them to draw my progesterone as well. maybe they are waiting to see what that comes back as before they do additional testing?
I dont want to think... "what if?". If I dont ask for the progesterone again, and if i do end up miscarrying again (which is very likely), I will be upset with myself.
Good luck. I know what you mean about wanting to know/not wanting to know about progesterone levels. If it makes you feel better though, my OB said they would find out what they needed to know from HCG, since that's more 'telling' than progesterone.
I had good doubling numbers and falling progesterone. I had to fight with my Drs to get them to continue to check my progesterone levels and then to put me on supplements. My levels weren't ever as low as yours though so I don't know anything about the "too low to supplement" thing. I'm happy we fought for the supps and testing though, meeting my peanut is right around the corner!
TTC#1 since May 2012
BFP#1 6/2/12 EDD 2/17/13 Natural M/C 6/19/12
BFP#2 10/30/12 EDD 7/12/13 CP 11/2/12
BFP#3 11/29/12 EDD 8/10/13 CP 12/2/12
BFP#4 12/26/12 EDD 9/7/13
1/18/13 HB 140! GROW BABY GROW!
Welcome to the world Little Girl! Born on her due date! September 8, 2013, 7lb 11.8oz, 19.5" long.
Well, doctors office called back. Nurse was kind of a (blank) to me on the phone. Said that will not treat progesterone that is lower than 10. Even after I begged, pleaded and cryed. I also asked her if there was any hopoe for the pregnancy and she assured me "no". Ah, long day.
I'm so sorry to hear you are going through this. I went through something similar-at 4.5-5.5 weeks, my HCG doubled twice then on draw 4 (which was 4 days after draw 3), went up but did not double (not sure 1st number, under 150, 330, 747, 1550). My progesterone however consistently dropped-12, 8, 6, 2). The NP did put me on oral progesterone, but cautioned it probably wouldn't help much.
I had an EP. The NP was sure I was having a MC and I was sure I was having an EP (diagnosed in the ER with a hemorrhagic cyst which turned out to be a ruptured tube).
Be your own advocate and keep going back for tests. I don't get why they won't retest progesterone. If you have any pain, just go to the ER. It's not over until it's over. T&Ps all turns out well for you!!!
~ES~
~*~EVERYONE always welcome!!~*~
TTC #1 since October 2012
BFP #1 11/22/12 EDD 7/29/13 MMC 1/14/13, D&C 1/16/13 BFP #2 5/7/13 EDD 1/14/2014 Ectopic discovered 5/21/13, lost left tube Referred to RE, blood work done August 2013, AMH 0.27, all else normal, HSG clear
BFP #3 12/1/13 EDD 8/8/14, MC 12/24/13
January 2014: RE #2, blood work repeated, homozygous MTHFR c677t, SHG clear
BFP #4 4/7/14 EDD 12/15/14Our rainbow was born 12/6/14 at 4:26pm!
they told me they "will NOT re-test progesterone"....
oh my so sorry you are going through this. I would DEMAND they test it. If they still declined i would be finding a new doc. I had low progesterone and dbling betas in my first tri and was placed on supplements. They didn't place me on supplements till they did a US at 5 weeks and confirmed a sac in the ute. But I took them all first tri and i am now 18 + weeks. Hopefully this gets sorted for you. Demand for a progesterone recheck!
BFP #1 (7/13/12) MC (8/14) 9 weeks. D & C 8/17. BFP #2 (5/18/13) due 1/26/14. Grow baby grow! Its a surprise! Team green!
another blood draw today..... hcg doubled again!! now its up to 2,600.... ultrasound tomorrow. very nervous. the doctor let me know he has "no idea what we are going to find..."
update: interestingly enough, ultrasound showed no ectopic. there is a gestational sac, however no hb. ultrasound tech said that for 6 weeks this is fairly normal. So far, preg looks like it is on track for 6 weeks. doc is still hesitant since progesterone was so low 10 days ago. he finally put me on a progesterone supplement, but will not retest. he told me it is what it is.
so, although we are cautiously hopeful, i still have concerns... is it possible that the low progesterone would cause issues later in the pregnancy? low progesterone cant lead to birth defects, etc, can it?
That is great news!! Wow. What a story. So glad you spoke up for yourself and your lo.
married my best friend 10/04/08, TTC since July 2012 BFP#1 Thanksgiving 11/22/12, mo-mo twins(one sac), traditional EDD 7/27/13, EDD due to risk 6/15/13 mmc Angel 2/7/13 @ 15w3d, mmc Aubrey 2/13/13 @ 16w2d, D&E 2/16/13
Yay! good update. Same thing happen with my SIL and me. My nephew is 9 months now and I am almost 29 weeks with a surprise baby. My Dr told me that it can mean eptopic but also some ppl ovaries just don't produce the progesterone you need to maintain the pregnancy and it can be a perfectly helpful pregnancy but you can still miscarry if you dont have enough progesterone. So with the help of progesterone it can help to get your levels up to prevent that. In the beginning my dr said I still could very well miscarry. After seeing the heart beat at 10 weeks and seeing the baby wiggle she said my chance to miscarry was very low. Congrats to you for being in the second tri!! Best wishes for a healthy rest of your pregnancy.
BFP #1 (7/13/12) MC (8/14) 9 weeks. D & C 8/17. BFP #2 (5/18/13) due 1/26/14. Grow baby grow! Its a surprise! Team green!
Re: very low progesterone by hcg doubling??
Congrats & Welcome. I'm sorry you're in limbo. I'm on progesterone supplements (I take them vaginally at bed time and will until 10 weeks) to help support my pregnancy. If your numbers are going up & your progesterone is low it seems like a win win (although I'm not a doctor and don't know your history) but seems like it may be worth bringing up? Several ladies on here are also on supplemental progesterone whether taken in shot form, pill form or suppository form. Good luck!
Agree with PP - progesterone levels fluctuate a lot, can they test it again when they do your next draw?
BFP#1 1/31/12, EDD 10/6/12 Harrison Gray born sleeping @ 18w6d. You changed our lives little guy.
BFP#2 EDD 10/29/13, C/P 2/25/13, Bye little Ish, we barely got to know you.
BFP#3 EDD 12/21/13, Baby Boots born 11/23/13 My rainbow baby!
January PAL Siggy Challenge: Good Advice
i did have bleeding a week or so ago, so i am wondering if that is why the doc is assuming i am miscarrying?
in addition, they are drawing my hcg on Monday, which it would seem to make sense for them to draw my progesterone as well. maybe they are waiting to see what that comes back as before they do additional testing?
I dont want to think... "what if?". If I dont ask for the progesterone again, and if i do end up miscarrying again (which is very likely), I will be upset with myself.
thanks again ladies!
thanks for the feedback!
Welcome to the world Little Girl! Born on her due date! September 8, 2013, 7lb 11.8oz, 19.5" long.
BFP #2 5/7/13 EDD 1/14/2014 Ectopic discovered 5/21/13, lost left tube
Referred to RE, blood work done August 2013, AMH 0.27, all else normal, HSG clear
BFP #2 (5/18/13) due 1/26/14. Grow baby grow!
Its a surprise! Team green!
January 13, 2012- m/c 1
September 12, 2012- m/c 2
MTHFR (2 copies C677T, +ANA)
Gluten free, dairy free, acupuncture
1/13/13- BFP #3-
1/14- 32 Progesterone 20
1/16- 100 Progesterone 23
1/22- 2054!! Progesterone 18.7 (On supplements since 1/16)
PLEASE be our sticky rainbow baby.. You have no idea how much you are loved already!!
You gotta keep your head up. You can let your hair down. Only rainbows after rain, the sun will always come again!
so, although we are cautiously hopeful, i still have concerns... is it possible that the low progesterone would cause issues later in the pregnancy? low progesterone cant lead to birth defects, etc, can it?
another u/s in two weeks to check for hb....
married my best friend 10/04/08, TTC since July 2012
BFP#1 Thanksgiving 11/22/12, mo-mo twins(one sac), traditional EDD 7/27/13, EDD due to risk 6/15/13
mmc Angel 2/7/13 @ 15w3d, mmc Aubrey 2/13/13 @ 16w2d, D&E 2/16/13
BFP#2 9/21/13, EDD 6/2/14, DD born 5/17/14
All AL always welcome in my threads!
BFP #2 (5/18/13) due 1/26/14. Grow baby grow!
Its a surprise! Team green!
A
2010: son born 9/1
2013: 2 miscarriages + d&cs, both at 10 weeks: April & July
2014: son #2 born 6/29
2016: Baby girl stillborn at 21w6d 4/29 and baby boy stillborn at 20w 3d 11/16